John j



(No Model.) I

J.J.EL0ID.4 STEEEOIYPE HOLDING DEVICE EGR PRINTING PRESSES.

No.'540,909.` Patented June 11, 1895.

:conm: mens oo, Pnofauno.. vasi-mman n. c4

Unrrnn i JOHN J. FLOYD, OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR` OFYONE-HALF TO ELISHA HARDING, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,909, dated .Tune 11, 1895.

Application tiled January 26, 1895.Y Serial No. 536,327. (No modelJ To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. FLOYD, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement iu Stere otype-Holding Devices for Printing-Presses,

of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specitioation, like letterson the drawings rep1 resenting like parts.

ro This invention has for its object the production of a novel device for use in connection with printing presses tohold one or more stereotypes or electrotypes inproper printing position upon the'bed of the press, whether I5 the latter be stationary or movable.

My invention is particularly adapted for clamping a plurality ot' stereotype plates in a single frame or bed, as distinguished from devices heretofore employed, wherein as many zo different frames are required as there are plates to be used.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, therefore,l employ two or more sets of clamps, each set cooperating to hold a single plate, and preferably the clamps fortwo or more plates being operated simultaneously during the clamping operation. In the prevferred construction, oneset of clamps, while adjustable as to position, remains in xed ad- 3o justed position during the clamping operation,

the clamping movements being performed entirely by the other set of clamps. These clamps are preferably arranged in slots or recesses in the frame, which slots act as guides for the clamps in their' movements. Y I

The above, together with other features of my'invention,including the means for operating the clamps and the yielding devices to compensate for unevenuess in the adjustment, 4o dac., will be hereinafter fully described and set forth in the claims. 1 f

Figure 1, in top or plan View, represents a portion of a printing-press bed with my novel holding device arranged thereon, two stereotype-plates being shown in position in the holding device.

section on the dotted line x, Fig. l; Fig. 3,

a cross-sectional detail on the dotted line Figs. 4, 5, yand 5a, perspective details to be re- 5o ferred to; Fig. 6, a sectional detail on an enlarged scale, taken on the dotted line y y,

Fig. '2 is a longitudinalV Fig. -2; Fig. 7, a cross'sectional detail on thev dotted line y y; Fig. 8, a side view of the operating-rack and its handle; and Fig. 9, a

kcross-section of the same, taken on the dotted I line y2 y2.

In the particular embodiment of my invention selected and for illustration shown in the drawings, A is a-rectangular ledge or wall arranged upon and, it may be, a part of the 6o bed,-whether movable or tiXed,-of a usual printing press, it being tbe-usual ledge or wall, within which the type and stereotype blocks are usually blocked or clamped.

B is a frame made up of a series of T- shaped bars b, separated, as shown in Figs. l and 3, to leave slots b between the edges of the heads of the said bars, these slots at one end of the frame opening into an end opening b2, extending across the ends ofall 7o the slots, as shownin Fig. l. v

` Oand D are the clamps which hold the stereotype platesE in position upon the frame.

The clamp C, shown separatelyin Fig. 5, consists of a clamping head c, mounted upon one end of a guide-bar c', fitting and adapted to slide in one of the slots b' in the frame, the said guide-bar c at its opposite ends having two depending end pieces c2, which are con. neoted at their bottoms by an under plate 63X. 8o See Fig. 5. The end piecesc2 are shown as shaped to fit and slide in the guide-ways formed by the enlarged portions of the recesses beneath the overhanging heads of the lT shaped bars b, as best shown in Fig. 3. vThe threaded carrier rod c3, between the end pieces c2 of the clamps, passes through the interior-ly threaded block c4 held against one of the end pieces by aspring c5. See Figs. 2 and 5. l

Referring to Fig. 7, the carrier rod c3 is flattened at its opposite sides, and the opening in the block c4, through which it passes, is rectangular in shape, it being threaded at top and4 bottom only, so that when the carrier rod is 95 turned into a vertical position,as iu full lines Fig. 7, the threads at its upper and under sides will lengage the threads at thetop and bottom ofthe rectangular opening 04X in the said block c4, and will lock the block to the roo carrier rod, but when the carrier rod is rotatcd through ninety degrees upon its side, as

in Fig. 6, its threads will be disengaged from the threads at the top and bottom of the slot inthe block, thereby permitting the block and its connected clamp to be slid freely along the threaded carrier rod for adjustment, as will be hereinafter described.

When the threaded carrier rod is turned upon its side, as in Fig. 6, to disengage it from the block, and it is desired to turn it again into its upright position to engage the block, there would ordinarily be danger of the threads upon the rod and in the block notengaging each oth er properly. To insu re proper threaded engagement when the rod is rotated into its upright position, I have provided one of the end pieces c2 of the clamp with a pivoted engaging device c6, which normally stands initsoutermost disengagiugposition. Shown in dotted lines, Fig. G. Vthen the clamp has been slid along the rod into approximate adjusted position, the engaging device is thrown into its full line position Fig. G, causing its threads to engage the threads at the sides of the downturned carrier-rod. The threads upon the engaging device being properly registered with the threads in the block c4, the rod may now be safely turned into its upright position, for the threads upon the engaging device will hold the carrier rod in such longitudinal position as will insure proper engagement of its threads with the threads of the block. As many of these clamps C and D may be mounted upon a single carrier rod as desired, I having herein shown two upon each rod. See Figs. l and 2.

Referring, now= to Fig. 2, the carrier rod c3 at one of its ends, herein shown at the right, is fixedly attached to and against rotation by a cylindrical block c7 located within the enlarged portion of the recess b2, between adjacent bars of the frame,and grooved at its sides, as indicated at c8 Fig. 4, to receive the two arms c, projecting forwardly from a block elo standing in position against the ends of the bars b. This block co has a rearwardly extended sleeve c, within which is located a threaded clamping rod cx, in threaded engagement with the cylindrical block c7, and loosely rotatable in the sleeve of the block c1", it having fast upon it at the end of the sleeve c a pinion c, by which it maybe rotated. Loosely mounted upon the sleeve c is a locking block cl3 adapted to slide on the said sleeve, and held normally in its position at the left Fig. 2 by a spring c, interposed between it and the pinion cl2, the said locking block having a iin C15, passing through a slot in the block c1() and entering the end of the narrowed or neck portion of the slot h between the two adjacent bars b. This tin entering the slot b restrains the locking block cl3, the block om and the cylindrical block c7 and its attached carrier rod against rotation.

It will be evident that rotation of the pinion C12 will rotate the actuator rod c", and move the cylindrical block c7 and its attached carrier rod with its clamps in one or the other clamps, one of which is shown in Fig. rousisting of the clamping heads d, fast upon one end of the short guide-rib d on the upper side of a block d2, adapted to slide in the guide-way formed between adjacent bars, the rib d' moving between the narrow portion of the groove between adjacent head portions of the bars. These clamps D are likewise kmounted upon threaded carrier rods d, similar in shape to the carrier rods c3, and having flattened sides, as with the rods c", the said carrier rods heilig extended to the right, Fig. l, and splined to the block-(Z4, standing against the ends of the bars, and having a reduced portion d5, entering the groove bctween the bars to restrain the said block norinally against rotation, a spring d interposed between theback ofthe said block and a pin (Z7 extended through the carrier rod, holding the said block normally against the ends of the bars, as shown.`

The blocks d2 on which the clamping heads are mounted, are provided with engaging de vices ds similar in construction and operation to the engaging devices c6 of the clamps C.

The ends of the carrier rods d3 and those of the actuator rods c preferably enter and are journaled in suitable holes in the end piece b3 of the frame, as best shown in Fig. l, the said end piece if5 being provided, as shown, with a longitudinal groove h4, to receive one ot' two like racks e, e, on the manual operating device E. See Fig. 9.

In the preferred construction, there will be a large numberof the longitudinal grooves or slots b between adjacent bars b.

The fratne is preferably made of sufficient size to hold several stereotype plates, the carrier bars and their clamps being properly disposed throughout the frame, tio provide at least two or more opposing clamps for each plate. In the present. instance of my invention, each plate is provided with three clamps, two acting in one direction and the third in an opposite direction on a line between the first two.

The operationof the device is as follows, assuming all the stereotype plates to be removed: The alignment of the printed matter being known, the clamps D are first fixed in adjusted position in the following manner,

IOC

IIO

viz: The workman holding the operating device in his hand, inserts the end of the hook e at the end of the handle of the device in the hole d", shown in dotted lines Fig. l, in the side of the block d4, and slides the latter to the position, as shown in Fig. 1. l

devices d8 are now thrown against the th read-- of the carrier Vrod into horizontal planes adjacent the threaded sides of theopenings in the blocksA d2, thereby permitting the said blocks to be slidalong into desired aligned The engaging ed sides of the carrier rods, the latter still in their horizontal positions, and the block d4 returned by the operating device to its former position, engaging the threads of -the carrier rod with the threads at the top and bottom of the clamp blocks d2, the said block di* spring-V ingagain into its lockingposition at thelet't, as

upon the frame and against the clamping heads d of the clamps D. He now, by. means ofthe hook c on the operating device E,moves the blocks cl3 of the'carrier rods of the clamps (l to the right Fig. 1, until their locking fins t C15 have been disengaged from the slots b. in which they were held, and after such disengagement, the said blocks cl3 are turned through an angle of ninety degrees; their lock-1 ing tins C15 being still in the slots of the blocks v010,causingthelattertobelikewisetnrned,and

through their arms'ci), turn the cylindrical block c7 and its threaded flat sided carrier rod also through ninety degrees,` to disengage the said rod from its blocks c4, to which the clamps.

C are attached. The clamps C may now be slid freely along their carrier rods against the` e edges of the stereotype plates opposite those in contact with the clamps D, therebymoving the said clam ps (l into approximate locking position. The engaging devices osare nowl thrown against the threaded edges of the downturned carrier rods, and the latter by means oftthe operating handle, turned again into their upright positions into locking threaded engagement with the blocks c4of the clamps, thereby again locking the clampsv C upon the carrier rods. The operator now grasps the handle of the operating device and by holding the same with oneof the racks in and to beguided by the guiding groove b4, moves the said rack from the bot-tom toward the-top of the device Fig. 1, to cause its other rack lto engage in succession the several pinions c1?, and rotate the same and their threaded actuator rods cx, within the cylindrical block c7, such rotation of the actuator rods within the said blocks acting to draw the said blocks and their attached carrier rods and clamps C to the right Fig. 1, against the edges of the stereotype plates, to firmly clamp the same in position between the said clamps C and D. These clamps C may be drawn against the stereotightly as desired, and, inasmuch as the clamping is done by drawing the carrier rods cS to the right Figs. 1 and 2, and as the carrier irod's are in threaded engagement with the 'blocks c bet\veen-tvhich and their clamps are interposed the springs c5,it will be evident that when the stereotype plates are fully clamped in position, further clamping move- 'ment of the carrier rods will act simply to compress the said interposed springs'. These springs are also desirable as providing for any `inaccuracy of the approximate adjustment of the clamps before the pinions are rotated,for, should one of the clamps O be moved into vclose contact with the edge of the stereotype plate Ain thepreliminary approximate adjustment, and another one be separated there- 'from a slight distance, the pinions would have to be rotated sufficiently to bring that clamp which is farthest separated from the plate, into clamping engagement therewith. Hence the spring of the clamp which was rst moved into actualY contact with the stereotype plate would .necessarily be compressed sufficiently to permit theother clamp referred to, to be drawn against its plate.

In the present instance and preferably, the

`vclamps C and D are provided at their clamping faces with locking projections or knife points @which in the clamping operation are limpressed into the usually thinnedl edges of the stereotype plates to positively holrl. them against displacement.

This invention is not limited to the. particular construction herein shown and-described,

,for it is evident the same may be varied Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. v

` Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secu-re by Letters Patent, i-s.- l

1. A holding device of the class described` containing the following instrumentalities, viz:-a frame, a plurality of clamps arranged 'in substantially parallel series, two or more clamps all facing in the same direction in `each series, the clamps in different series facing inopposite directions, means to cause si- I multaneous relative movement of the clamps of the respective series facing in opposite directions, to thereby clamp between them two or more stereotype plates, an-d springs to permit relative yielding movement ofthe clamps upon the respective rods to compensate for IOO TIO

variations in positions of the plates engaged A meansto longitudinally move said carrier rod and thereby its clamp, for clamping purposes substantially as described.

5. A holding device of the class described, containing the following instrumentalities, vizz-a frame, two opposingclamps, a threaded carrier rod upon which one of said clamps is mounted, the said rod having one or more flattened faces, means to rotate the said carrier rod with relation to said clamp to disengage the said clamp and rod, and means to longitudinally move the said carrier rod and its attached clamp, substantially as described.

6. A holding device of the class described, containing the following instrumentalites, viz:-a frame, two opposing clamps,a carrier rod upon which one of said clamps is mounted, said carrier rod having one or more flattened sides, rotation of the said carrier rod with relation to its clamp disengagingI the latter therefrom, an engaging device to direct the rod again into threaded engagement with the said clamp, and means to move the said carrier rod and its attached clamp, substantially as described.

7. A holding device of the class described, l

containing the following instrumentalities, 1 viz:-a frame, two opposing clamps or sets of containing the following instrumentalities, vizz-a frame,two opposing clamps,athreaded rod for moving one of the' said clamps, and its support in the said frame, and a spring toA permit rotation of the threaded rod after the clamp has been moved against the stereotype plate, substantially as described.

8. A holding device of the class described, containing the following instrumentalities, viz:a frame, two opposing clamps, a carrier rod upon which one of said clamps is mounted, means to adjust the position of the said clamp upon the said rod, and a threaded actuatoi` rod connected with and adapted by its rotation to cause longitudinal movementof the said carrier rod, substantially as described.

9. A holding device of the class described,

containing the following instrumentalities,

viz:a frame, two opposing clamps, acarrier v rod upon which one of said clamps is adjustably mounted, a threaded actuator rod connected with and adapted on rotation to cause longitudinal movement of said carrier rod andY its clamp, and a pinion on and furnishing means by which to rotate said actuator rod, substantially as described.

10. The herein described holding device for stereotype plates and the like, the same vconsisting of a frame containing a plurality of longitudinal recesses, a plurality of clamps longitudinally adjustable in the respective recesses, the clamps in diderent recesses facing in opposite directions, and means within the said recesses for imparting a sim ultaneous movement of the clamps in one recess relatively to the clamps in an adjacent recess facing in'an opposite direction, substantially as described.

11.. A holding frame of the class described, containing the following instrumentalities, vizz-a frame, two opposing clamps, a carrier rod upon which one of the same is mounted and rotatable for disengagement from the clamp carried thereby, an actuator rod. for moving the said carrier rod and its clamp, a block connected with and to rotate the said carrier rod, a lock to restrain said block from rotation, and a manual operating device to release the said lock and eifect rotation of the block and carrier rod, substantially as described.

12. A holding frame of the class described,

clamps, each provided with a locking proj ection', and means to move one clamp or set of `clamps toward the other clamp or clamps to 

